How to Become a Accountant

About Accountant

A career in Accounting, in simple words, deals with keeping financial accounts. An Accountant estimates the economic and financial activities of an organisation and forwards the information to investors, management, regulators and creditors. Being the backbone of every business or organisation, an accountant is always in demand. The skilled professionals in the field of accounting are not only needed to conduct a business with financial stability but are also well-respected in the organisation. 

The field of accounting includes a number of specialisation areas. Those who wish to pursue a career in this field can choose one of the various areas for employment. Some of these specializations include Management Accounting, Financial Accounting, Tax Accounting, Auditing, etc.

Eligibility to become Accountant

“How to become an Accountant?” is a question that must be in the mind of every aspirant. Just like every other career, to become an Accountant, one is required to meet certain educational criteria. There are a number of undergraduate and postgraduate degree and diploma programmes that one can pursue in the relevant field. Practising accountancy requires certified professionals so, one must be a certified accountant to enter into the field.  

Bachelor Courses to Become an Accountant

Postgraduate Courses to Become an Accountant

Certificate & Diploma Courses to Become an Accountant

Key Skills Required to Become an Accountant

• Analytical skills

• High level of numeracy

• Ability to work for a longer duration

• Ability to work in an environment of computing area

• Knowledge of accounting software

• Teamwork ability

• Understanding the accounting procedure

• Self-motivating

• Communication skills

• Interpersonal skills

• Business acumen

Types of Job Roles Accountant

Depending upon the educational qualification and experience, an accountant can take a number of job roles and profiles. Some of them are mentioned below:

• Auditor 

• Accounting Technician

• Tax Inspector

• Financial Manager

• Corporate Treasure

• Management Accountant

• Chartered Accountant

• Company Secretary

• Finance Manager

• Financial Advisor

• Chief Financial Officer

• Cost Accountant

Responsibilities of an Accountant

An accountant has a number of responsibilities in an organisation. Here are some of them:

• Preparing accounts

• Auditing financial statements

• Filing tax returns

• Compiling and presenting budget reports

• Administering payrolls

• Financial forecasting

• Controlling income and expenses

• Risk analysis

• Negotiating the terms of business deals

• Dealing with insolvency cases

Employment Sector/Industry for Accountant

Various employment areas and sectors an accountant can work in are mentioned below: 

Pay Scale/Salary of Accountant

The salary of an accountant completely depends on an individual’s skills, experience, job profile, employer and geography. Candidates can refer to the following tentative data for the same. 

Books & Study Material to Become Accountant

Some of the books that are recommended to become an accountant are mentioned below:

Pros of becoming a Accountant

• High salary

• Income stability

• In-demand occupation

• Plenty of opportunities to travel

• Potential for professional growth

• Diversity

Cons of becoming a Accountant

• Long working hours

• Hard work required

• Fierce competition

• Lengthy education 

• Tedious and stressful job

• Work-life balance becomes tough